The meeting inside their base felt strangely heavy that afternoon. The round wooden table at the center of the room looked more like a battleground of silence than a place of strategy.
Ren sat in the middle seat, calm and composed as always. On his left sat Evie, posture straight and hands folded neatly on her lap. On his right was Leonel — fidgeting, restless, and visibly itching to say something he probably shouldn't.
It had been ten minutes since Evie joined them, yet not a word had been exchanged.
Leonel's eyes darted between the two like a spectator watching a romance drama unfold. He finally leaned closer to Ren and whispered, though "whisper" was an overstatement.
"Spill it. Are you two dating?"
His voice echoed loud enough for the walls to hear.
Ren's foot instantly shot out and landed a solid heel on Leonel's boot.
Leonel yelped, nearly leaping out of his chair. "Ow—!"
